Hole boring rig



M. YOST 2,645,458-

HOLE BORING RIG July 14, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 29, 1950 INVENTOR Merrill gas? ATTORNEYS M. 'YOST HOLE BORING RIG July 14, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1950 INVENTOR Merrill yosz,

ATTORNEYS July 14, 1953 Filed July 29, 1950 M. YOST HOLE BORING RIG 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 i? I & I

g E .53 40 f 39 l Md 44 I INVENTOR Merrill Q gosi' ATTORNEYS plan on. line 2-2 of Figl 1.

vation of the hole boring frig.

. Patented July 14, 1953 This invention is directedto, and it isan object toi provide, a hole boring rig of novel con- 'struction and function; the rigincluding a vertically reciprocable column of substantial weight, and a normally open clamshell digging head on the lower end of the column adapted to be driven UNITED; STATES grist; org es l l r 2,645,45 V HOLE BonmefnIG V Merrill Yost, Sacramento; Calif. I l Application M 29, 1950, s n. 176,749

e teams. (01.255 4991- into the earth upon free fall of the digging column and. to then close upon a-bite of earth'for withdrawal from a hole boring rig',=of vertically reciprocable, free fall digging type as aforesaid; which includes a novel iclamshell digging head designed to withstand the shock of forceful engagement into the earth and to then close under power to pick up a bite or load for withdrawal from said hole Anadditional object of the inventioriis" to provide a hole boring rig which includes novel fiuid pressure actuated mechanism to close the c ams'hell digging head after its impact penetration into the earth at the bottom'ofthe hole; 'such mechanism comprising a power cylinder and a novel valve unit in associationtherewith..

"A stillfurther object of theinvention is to provide a .hole boring rig; of the typdde'schibedi which embodies a novel mast and winch assembly .for mounting; guiding; and actuatingthe digging column and digging head on the lower end or;

the latter. 1 i i a It is also an object of the invention to provide a hole boring ri which is fast acting, sturdy and rugged, and relatively simple to operate.

"Still'another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable hole boring rig, and

yet one which will be exceedingly effective for thepurpose for which it isdesigned. i l i Theseob-jects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as willfully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims. I

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the hole boring rig; the mast being shown in its lowered p'osition in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear end ele Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevationQpartly in sec- H -23 tioh, of the digging head and'its actuating mechanism; the head being closed; Fig. 5 is a similar'view, but in full sectioira with the digging head open. -i Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section of'the digging columnat its upperendl l Referring now moreparticularlyto the 'char actersof reference-on the drawin'gspthe hole boring' rig is he'reshown as'mounted'on a'truck, indicated generally at l, for"tra-nsport fromplaoe to place; the truck including a flatsbedi-reariwardly of the cab 3.

' An upstanding rectangular skeletonxframe 4 is mounted inconnection with the rear end-portionof the truck bedZ and'upstands'therefrom; such frame constituting the sup'portfor a mast, indicatedgenerally at 5. r 1 The mast'fi is generallytriangularjin. side elee vation, and normally seats-:atopthe frame 4; but is hinged at its forwardsbottom cornen-asat-fi; for forward and downwardtiltingstoa horizontal transport position; i as shown -ihdotted j'lines in Fig. 1. When lowered to its-horizontaltransport position; the mast -E- rests in aacradle-lwon the uppergend of a post 8 which; upstandsfrom the truck bed immediately .rearwardly of the cab 3.": The mast 5 is adapted tobe'tilted forwardly and downwardly to its horizontal transport-position by a pull cableyQ which I leads from a winch it. .r;-- p; w. r -The. mast 5 includes; ai the rearthereoi; a main channel --iron mast beam or, pole '-l l.-, and said mast beam normally-extends downwardly some distance below theiuppen end.- of the frame. 4 rearwardlyof the latter. fAt its 'lower end the mastbeam H is detachablysecuredto .a beam I 2 of the frame 4 by matchingly engaged attach+ ment plates l3 fixed on correspondingvones -of the beams II and i2 and connected by: bolts 4 .4,

A vertically elongated, tubular digging column i 5 of. substantialstrength and. weight is disposed immediately to the .rearof-the mast-beam hll for vertical reciprocation, :,-being adapted :to run 1 through a plurality of vertically spaced guide collars, indicated-at H5, H1, and I8; thelguidecollar is including a downwardlyfiaring-bell I9lfor the purpose of guiding the upper end of thelcoh umn l5 forre-entrance into said guide collar l il 'in an instance wherein the column has been tion transversely of the truck bed 2. The purpose of this arrangement is to assure that the cable 2| 'maintains proper alinement at all times with the top sheave22. In addition to the cable 2|, the winch 23 carries a hose 24: wound with the turns side by side with the cable 2|; said hose likewise extending to the top of the mast, turning about a top sheave, and thence depending into the digging column l5 to supply air under pressure to the hereinafter described power mechanism which actuates the digging head 20.

3 by a flanged attachment collar 43 to a mounting Air under pressure is supplied to the hose 24, 1

through the winch 23 and suitable connections,

'by a hose 25 leading from an air supply tank 26.

a separate compressor unit disposed alongside I,

the truck I. 7

Air pressure delivery from the hose through the winch fittings to the hose .24 is controlled by a two-way valve 21 actuated by a rod 28 connected to an operating lever 29 at the Opposite end of the winch 23, and which is adjacent the operators platform 39; the latter being mounted at the rear end of the truck in a laterally offset position.

The winch 23 includes a carriage 3| carried on roller ways '32 for axial travel transversely of the truck bed, and which travel of the winch is .raused by an air mctor'33 built into the winch and having suitable driving connections; said air motor 33 being controlled by an operating lever 34 accessible from the platform 30. Air under pressure to actuate the motor 33 is delivered'through a hose 35 which leads to the valve 36-which the lever 34 controls.

Operation ofthe lever 34 one way or the other causes the winch 23 to pay out or to wind in both the cable 2| and hose 24, with simultaneous axial travel of the winchdrum in a direction to maintain the desired alinement with the top sheaves.

Under certain operating conditions it is desired to lock the digging column IE to the mast beam and this is accomplished by a band-type brake 3'1 fixed to themast beam and encircling thedigging column 15, such brake being adapted The "brake lever 38 has a beyond-dead-center 7 position whereby the digging column |5 may be locked to the mast beam II; this being essential under certain working conditions, and when the mast and the digging column l5 are in their horizontal transport position, as in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The clamshell digging head 20 is actuated by a power cylinder unit, indicated generally at 39, interposed between said digging head and the lower end of the digging column l5; said digging head and power cylinder unit being constructed in detail as follows: The power cylinder unit 39 includes a cylinde 40 secured in dependent relation to the lower end of the digging column I5 by means of a flanged attachment collar 4|; the uppermost flange 42 being turnably connected to said column whereby the power cylinder unit 39 and the digging head 20 maybe manually rotated from time to time, to the end that a round hole be bored. It will be understood that with a clamshell digging head 20 the hole would not be round if said head were I not turned from time to time during the digging or boring operation. l 1

At its lower end the cylinder 4|)v is connected plate 4.4 from which the clamshell digging head 20 is suspended; said head comprising a pair of cooperating clamshell bucket halves 45 pivoted together at their inner end by a cross shaft 46. On opposite sides each clamshell bucket half 45 is pivotally suspended by swing arms 41 from cars 43 on the under side of the mounting plate; eachcl'amshell bucket half including 4 digging teeth 49.

A cross head 50 is fixed in connection with the cross shaft 46 above the latter, and saidcross head includes a centrally disposed, upstanding clevis5| pivoted, as at 52', to the lower end of a piston rod 53 which extends upwardly through a packing gland 54 axially into the cylinder 40.

Within the cylinder 40 the piston rod'53 lS fitted with a piston 55, and thence the piston rod continues upwardly through a guide 56 through the attachment collar 4|; V

A port 51 opens from the piston'rod 53 below the piston 55, and such port is in communication with an axial'bore 58 which leads upwardly in the piston rod 53 opening to its upper end.

Anautomatic valve, indicated generally a t'59, is afiixed at its lower end to the upper end'of V the piston rod 53, and at its upper end the valve 59 is connected by a rotary fitting G0 to the hose 24 which'depends into the digging column l5 from the upper end of the mast. V I

When the power cylinder unit and digging head are manually rotated, as previously stated','pis ton rod 53 and valve 59 are rotated therewith; -'the rotary fitting 60 allowing such rotationwithout twisting of the hose 24. l

The valve 59 functions as follows: When air pressure is fed to the hose 24 'by manipulation of the; operating lever29,1a normally' spring-elevated plunger 6| is depressed, establishing communication about said plunger througha bypassing duct 62, the air pressure then'feeding downwardly in the bore 58 and delivering through the port 51 into the cylinder 49 below the piston 55.

The piston 55 and the clamshell bucket halves 45 are normally lowered and opened, respectively;

by gravity, but when air pressure delivers from the port 51 the piston 55 is forced upwardly, and corresponding motion of the piston rod 53 closes the clamshell bucket halves with a digging or biting action. The clamshell bucket halves 45 will thus remain closed as long as air pressure remains in the hose 24, and the spring elevated plunger 6| is depressed, in the manner shown in Fig. 4, to open the bypassing duct 62. However, immediately upon the air pressure being relieved from the hose 24, the plunger 6| is spring-elevated, closing'the bypassing duct 62 and opening a vent port- 63, venting the cylinder 4| through the port 51 and axial bore 58, with the result that the piston 55 and clamshell bucket halves 45 fall to their normally lowered and open positions, re-

spectively.

It will thus be evident that by the-simple manipulation of the lever 29 the operator has full In order to prevent the clamshell bucket halves 45 from opening beyond a predetermined point,

and to the end that said bucket halves may have great impact resistance, the same abut at their upper edges against heavy-duty stops 64 which are fixedtdand depend from,,the mounting. plate 44 centrally between the' corresponding swing arms 41.

In operation of the described hole boring rig the digging column I is recurringly elevated by the cable 2| to a substantial height and then released for free fall; the clamshell digging head 20 being open with each suchfree fall and thus striking the bottom of theholewith the clamshell bucket halves apart. 1'.

By reason of the heavy-duty. construction embodied in the clamshell digging head, including the stops 64, the clamshell bucket halves are capable of withstanding theimpact shock, and

they are driven forcefully into the earth at the bottom of the hole.

Thereafter, with the digging column I5 remaining lowered and stationary, the clamshell digging head 20 is actuated, in the-manner prerepeated relatively rapidly, and as a consequence the rig is capable of boring a hole in the earth at a substantial number of feet per hour.

Under conditions where the hole is relatively deep, therdigging column l5 will run out of the lowermost guide collar I8, but-as aforesaidthe-bell l9 assures that upon each upward travel of said digging column it re-enters the said guide collar I8 through the bell IS. The rig is thus capable of digging relatively deep holes, such as prospect'holes formining or dredging, or wells,

halves which normally fall apart by gravity when the digging head 20 is opened, are positively;

forced apart by a push rod 65 which leads up- I 1 wardly from the crosshead 50 and abuts against the bell I9 when the digging column I5 reaches its uppermost limit of travel. The push rod 65 'thus assures of positive mechanical opening of .the clamshell bucket halves 45 as each digging cycle is completed' In order to prevent dirt or water from entering column I5, said column is closed at the top by a head 66, the hose 24 passing through the head in sealed relation.

In order that air trapped within the column from the cylinder exhaust may escape to atmosphere, the head is provided with an upwardly. opening check valve 61. l V

The described hole boring rig is very practical and reliable; providing a mechanism capable of digging or boring holes in the earth in a relatively fast and expeditious manner.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred 6 construction'of the device, stillin practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to-as do .not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as definedby the appended claims. r Having thusdescribed the invention, the following is claimed as newand useful, andupon which Letters Patent are desired: f

l. A hole boring rig comprising a mast, a digging columndisposed adjacent themast for vertical reciprocating motion, guide collarson the'mast in vertically spaced relation, the column running through said collars, apower actuated cable suspending the column from the mast for running through said collars, a power actuated cable suspending the column from the mast for reciprocating motion, a digging head on the lower end of the column, and a normally released, friction brake mounted in connection with the mast and cooperating with the column to clamp the same against movement relative to the mast.

3. In a hole boring rig which includes a digging column arranged for power lift :andfree fall relative to a mast; a digging head on the lower end of the column comprising a'horizontal mountin plate, a pair of cooperating clamshell bucket halves below said plate, swing arms suspending the buckethalves from the plate, adjacent ends of thebucket halves being pivoted for opening and closing motion of said halves, power means operative to impart suchmotion to the bucket halves, an upstanding push rod connected to the assembly of bucket halves to open the same upon relative downward movement of the rod, and a fixed member against which said rod abuts upon said column being'lifted to its uppermost limit of travel.

4. A hole boring rig comprising a mast, a digging column disposed adjacent the mast for vertical reciprocating motion, power means operative to impart such motion to thecolumn, a fluidpressure actuated power cylinder mounted axially on the lower end of the column, a digging head mounted on the lower end of the power cylinder and connected for actuation by the latter, a valve controlled fluid pressure supply conduit leading to the power cylinder to cause actuation of the latter, and an automatic valve interposed between the conduit and power cylinder arranged to cause fluid pressure to feed in actuating relation to the power cylinder upon fluid pressurebeing present in said conduit, and to vent the power cylinder upon cessation of said fluid pressure in the conduit; said automatic valve comprising a cylindrical member which at its upper end is connected to the supply conduit and at its lower end to the power cylinder, a piston slidable in the cylinder and a spring urging the piston up, the cylinder 7 p ging column disposed adjacent the mast for vertical reciprocating motion, power means operative to impart such motion to the column, a fluid pressure actuated power cylinder mounted axially on the lower end of the. column, adigging head mountedon the lower end of the power cylinder and connected for actuation by the latter, a valve controlled fluid pressure supply conduit leading tothe power cylinder to cause actuation of the latter, an automatic valve interposed between the conduit and power cylinder and arranged to cause fluid pressure to feed in actuating relation to the power cylinder upon pressure being present in the conduit and to vent the power cylinder upon cessation of pressure in the conduit, means mounting the head and cylinder on the column for rotation as a unit] relative'thereto, means mounting the valve in fixed connection with the top of the cylinder, the supply conduit being within the column, and a rotary coupling con- 8 V necting the valve and conduit and axially alined with the axis of rotation of the power cylinder.

MERRILL YOST.

' References Cited in. the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,245,274 Riley Nov. 6, 1917 1,645,989 Hansen Oct. "18', 1927 1,674,392 Flansburg June 19, 1928 1,928,485 Gilbert Sept. 26, 1933 15 1,985,710 Allard Dec. 25, 1934 1,999,115 Shinn' -Apr. 23, 1935 2,013,070 Sheridan Sept. 3, 1935 2,223,645 Solomon ,'Dec. 3, 1940 Strain Dec. 21, 1943 

